When it comes to letting, selling, renting or buying your Birmingham city-centre property, there are a few things we’ll need from you before we can start the process. A certified form of ID is one of those!
Certifying a document is a confirmation that the document provided is a true copy of the original – no changes, no tampering.
Why do I need my documents certified?
It’s the law. The government requires all estate agencies to ensure that all tenants are permitted in the UK and that all clients are who they say they are. The powers that’ be also require agents to guard against money laundering.
Asking you to prove your identity doesn’t mean we suspect you of operating outside of the law, but it enables us to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations and the requirements of third parties, such as the Land Registry and Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Who can certify a document?
Your document must be certified by a professional person or someone well respected in your community (‘of good standing’).
For example:
- bank or building society official
- councillor
- minister of religion
- dentists, doctors, opticians
- chartered accountant
- financial advisors
- lawyer, solicitor or notary
- teacher or lecturer
- social workers
- police or fire service officer
- director/manager/senior HR officer of a VAT registered company
- chairman/director of a limited company
- Post Office official (through their certification service)
The person who certifies your document must NOT be someone related to you, someone, living at the same address or someone in a relationship with you.
How do I certify a document?
Take the photocopied document and the original to your chosen person. Ask them to certify the copy by:
- Writing ‘Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me’ on to the copy of the document
- signing and dating it
- printing their name under the signature (in block capitals)
- providing their occupation, address and telephone number
What kind of documents can be certified?
All sorts!
- Passports
- Photocard ID’s
- Driving licenses
- Photographs intended for ID
- Letters from the government
- Bank/building society or credit card statements
- Gas, electricity or council tax bills
- Letters from a hospital/doctor
Still not sure how certify the documents we need? Let us know and we’ll talk you through it.